PCA Dismisses Complaint Alleging 'Yoon Seok-yeol and Han Dong-hoon Retaliatory Personnel Moves'

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Hyung-min] The High-ranking Officials' Crime Investigation Agency (HCIA) dismissed a case filed by a civic group accusing President Yoon Seok-yeol and Minister of Justice Han Dong-hoon of so-called 'code personnel appointments' and 'retaliatory personnel appointments.'

According to the Citizens' Action for Judicial Justice (CAJJ) on the 17th, the HCIA dismissed the case against President Yoon and Minister Han, who were accused of abuse of authority and obstruction of the exercise of rights, on the 9th. Dismissal is a disposition that concludes a case without substantive judgment when the conditions for litigation are not met.

CAJJ filed a complaint with the HCIA, alleging that on the 18th of last month, President Yoon and Minister Han abused their authority by appointing prosecutors with special ties to key positions in the prosecution and demoting those who held major posts during the Moon Jae-in administration.

Regarding this, the HCIA reportedly judged that the suspicion of 'code personnel appointments' during the regime change does not constitute the crime of abuse of authority, and there are insufficient grounds or circumstances to initiate an investigation.

According to the non-prosecution reason statement disclosed by CAJJ, the HCIA cited Supreme Court precedents stating that personnel transfers fall within the discretion of the appointing authority as long as they do not violate legal restrictions.

Regarding the fact that the Prosecutors' Personnel Committee was not consulted, the HCIA said it was "somewhat unusual," but added, "It is difficult to interpret that the committee's resolution must be obtained and followed, and in principle, the personnel authority over prosecutors is exercised by the Minister of Justice."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.